- Dec: *maybe* try for an Amex Zync if scores look better, report gets a little cleaner, and mortgage is delayed as I expect

- Ongoing: depending on finances, figure out when to use the long stick to wake the tiger (IRS), might be paid but my documentation has been lackluster this decade

- Ongoing: seeing if I can get that collection removed

I hit nearly every single milestone with the exception of finishing the IRS issue and getting the collection removed (really didn't try hard on this one as frankly the collection is righteous from my own wayward stupidity). Highlights from the year included:

- Hitting my goal score of 640+ in July, though my score has since flatlined at 643 for the last several months.

- Refinanced my car from 19.35% APR in August down to 5.99% (now 5.74% with DCU's good behavior bonus)

- Zynced just under the wire in October before it was discontinued.

Next year's plan is a theoretically simple two-step process (with some random score target since I've no idea anymore):

- Deal with IRS

- Get mortgaged

Have a wonderful holiday season and best of wishes and luck to everyone for next year!

Re: myFICO Fitness Challenge 2012 Wrap Up: How Did You Do?

Did not achieve my goal because I started last month only. At the same time I went on an app spree 4 hard pulls and 3 new cards: CapOne (already reporting), Amex and Discover (not yet reporting). So far I have not been punished yet but it might come as of JAN13. So you might see my scores going in oposite direction next year. Just got ready for 2013 and updated my signature. More realistic goal for end of 2013 now. We will see.

Re: myFICO Fitness Challenge 2012 Wrap Up: How Did You Do?

Happy Holidays!

The first step on this journey was to get my credit score. I am pleased. But I want to take it higher. A bad choice, an impulsive decision to get a Macy's card while doing Christmas shopping and one missed payment in '08 still haunts me. In 2 years, that red flag can be eliminated. In the mean time, what can I do to maintain or improve my credit score? Besides property or a car, what else might I buy on installment?

Re: myFICO Fitness Challenge 2012 Wrap Up: How Did You Do?

talamafa wrote:

Happy Holidays!

The first step on this journey was to get my credit score. I am pleased. But I want to take it higher. A bad choice, an impulsive decision to get a Macy's card while doing Christmas shopping and one missed payment in '08 still haunts me. In 2 years, that red flag can be eliminated. In the mean time, what can I do to maintain or improve my credit score? Besides property or a car, what else might I buy on installment?

There is no need to buy a car or something else just to have an installment loan reporting.. check with banks in your area and find one that offers a secured loan... that is a loan secured by your money. What happens with a secured loan is that you take money to the bank and use it to buy a CD. They then take out a loan against the CD, and give you the money back. Then you pay the bill on the loan for 12 months, while earning interest on the CD. After 12 months, you own the CD free and clear, and you've built 12 months installment history which can help if you want to buy a car later on.

Plan to garden until June 2013. That way all my hard pulls except the two I did this month will be a year old.

As soon as the collection is removed from a rehabilitation student loan, I am looking for another boost in my credit score. Was hoping it would have been completed before the year ended, but no success as of yet.

I have learn so much from the forums this past year and my suggestion to new comers is time is your best friend, learn from your mistakes and others! It will take some time and patience, but the reward is worth the wait.

My goal is to be at 700 post two years filing bk (April 2013). Hopefully, when default loan is removed and with time I will make my goal.

Re: myFICO Fitness Challenge 2012 Wrap Up: How Did You Do?

Well, I just found this forum but since I started using myFico, my score has increased from 715 to 747! I'm pretty happy I guess I will sign on for the 2013 FICO fitness challenge. Hoping to get to at least 765 in 2013 and have all of my outstanding CC debt paid off. Here's to a prosperous new year, Cheers!

my file is light how ever JUST A couple of small cards thinking about putting some AU with long history and larger balances what do you think? trying to get up to 700 club with in 60days and so on >>>>> 2013 WILL BE MY YEAR JUST PLAY THE GAME RIGHT......

Re: myFICO Fitness Challenge 2012 Wrap Up: How Did You Do?

I had a mixed year. I'd hoped to break 700, and did so for TU, not for EQ.

My EQ scores have stayed in the low 680s all year. But I was able to purchase new home, kill off the high fee rebuilder cards (First Premier and CreditOne), and replace my last secured card with 6.2K in two unsecured cards.

I believe inquiries generated to finally get my mortgage and utilization are the reasons I didn't do better in 2012.

Re: myFICO Fitness Challenge 2012 Wrap Up: How Did You Do?

My wife and I decided to get serious about our debt when we bought our first house. We found out that she was pregnant with our first child the day that we closed. A couple of weeks later, we bought her a car as hers was about to shoot craps. Our goal was to pay as much down as we could in 2011. Last year, maternity leave notwithstanding we paid off the remaining $4,500 on my car. We paid her car off in one year too. We also knocked a bit off our student loans and mortgage and paid off a little over $11,000 in credit card debt. We also paid off the $3,200 we owed on furniture we bought when we moved in our house. We haven't carried a balance on a credit card since 2010.

Our debt is now her student loans and mine and our mortgage. Our goal for this year is to pay off another $50,000 in student loans. Unfortunately, we haven't always been good about paying down debt or even paying our bills on time. We each have scores in the low 700's and I'd like to see 750's by the end of the year. Good luck to everyone else this year. I look forward to seeing updates from everyone.

My wife's scores are in the 740's, but mine have been more stubborn (more baddies). As to the remaining goals for 2012, we did lower our combined student loan debt by a little more than $52,000.00 in 2012. It's where we spent most of our extra money. Still haven't paid any interest on any credit card debt since 2010. Overall, it was a successful year. We have 28k in student loans remaining and hope to have it paid by the end of 2013. After that, it's down to just the mortgage and eventually complete financial freedom.

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Many factors affect your FICO Scores and the interest rates you may receive. Fair Isaac is not a credit repair organization as defined under federal or state law, including the Credit Repair Organizations Act. Fair Isaac does not provide "credit repair" services or advice or assistance regarding "rebuilding" or "improving" your credit record, credit history or credit rating.
FTC's website on credit.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: All FICO® Score products made available on myFICO.com include a FICO® Score 8, along with additional FICO® Score versions. Your lender or insurer may use a different FICO® Score than the versions you receive from myFICO, or another type of credit score altogether. Learn more

FICO, myFICO, Score Watch, The score lenders use, and The Score That Matters are trademarks or registered trademarks of Fair Isaac Corporation. Equifax Credit Report is a trademark of Equifax, Inc. and its affiliated companies. Many factors affect your FICO Score and the interest rates you may receive. Fair Isaac is not a credit repair organization as defined under federal or state law, including the Credit Repair Organizations Act. Fair Isaac does not provide "credit repair" services or advice or assistance regarding "rebuilding" or "improving" your credit record, credit history or credit rating. FTC's website on credit.